Ladbrokes Agrees to Pay €100K on Disputed Bet After Year-Long Inquiry

After more than a year of investigation and delays, betting giant Ladbrokes has confirmed it will pay out €100,000 to an Irish punter whose six-figure win had been under review since April 2024.

The bet, placed by Dylan Phelan on April 19, 2024, combined two horses: Rocky’s Diamond at 81.0 and Diamond Nora at 126.0. Both horses went on to win their respective maiden hurdle races at Limerick and Ballinrobe, with odds narrowing to 23.0 and 17.0 on race day.

Phelan’s €30 each-way double, placed in a Ladbrokes shop, totaled a win of €319,440 (approx. £273,935). However, under Ladbrokes’ betting shop payout rules, the maximum he could receive was capped at €100,000 (approx. £85,000).

Ladbrokes initially held off paying, citing ongoing inquiries by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB). The regulator had launched a formal investigation after stewards raised concerns about the sudden improvement in form by both winning horses. Adding to the scrutiny: Phelan worked as a stable lad for the horses’ trainer and owner, Declan Queally.

Ladbrokes defended the delay as being “entirely consistent” with its terms, pending the outcome of the IHRB’s probe. After more than a year of review, the IHRB concluded that Phelan himself was not under suspicion, effectively clearing the way for payment.

Ladbrokes has now reversed its earlier stance and confirmed the €100,000 payout.